Tuning-stem for stringed instruments.



No. 657,493. v Patented Sept. 4, I900.

' W. A. LANG.

TUNING STEM FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed July 8, 1898. Renewed June 80, 1900.) (No Model.)

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UNITED ST TES PATENT Quince.

WILLIAM A. LANG, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro ARTHUR LANG, or

SAME PLACE.

TUNING-STEM FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,493, dated September 4, 1900.

Application filed July 8,1898. Renewed June 30, 1900. Serial No. 22.202. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,WILLIAM A. LANG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, in the 5 county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning-Stems for Stringed Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the o invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to musical stringed instruments-such as guitars, banjos, &c.but

5 more particularly to the construction of the tuning-stems of such instruments; and its ob ject is to produce a stem of the simplest and cheapest form and which when combined with the means for operating it will be most efiective in the operation of relaxing and tightening a string.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of the various parts which go to make up the tuning attachment as a whole, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure-lis a perspective view of a tuning attachment, showing my improved tuning-stem arranged o and combined therein; Fig. 2, a longitudinal horizontal section; Fig. 3, a plan View of the base-plate as stamped or struck up from a sheet-metal blank; and Fig. 4, separate views of the gear and stem, somewhat enlarged.

Referring to the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the base-plate, which is stamped or struck up from a sheet-metal blank. The

base-plate is provided with bearing-lugs 2,

which are turned or bent upwardly at right angles thereto. These bearing-lugs are provided with open slots to form bearings for the shafts of tuning-keys 3, which are provided with screw-threads 4 between their bearings. The base plate is provided with suitable means of which the attachment may be socured to the head of the instrument. The base-plate immediately in front of each pair of bearing-lugs is provided with a central per- 0 foration 5, in which is received and fitted the screw-holes for the reception of screws, by

reduced shank portion 6 of a solid stem 7. The shank 6 of each stem terminates in a square tenon 8, on which is secured, preferably by upsetting or riveting, a gear-wheel 9, which meshes with the worm-screwon the turning-key shaft. The gear-wheels are dish shape in form, with their bottoms provided with a central square aperture to receive the tenon 8 of the stem, and are stamped from sheet metal by means of suitable dies at a single operation. By thus constructing the gearwheels a boss 10 is produced on their under sides which serves to elevate the teeth of the gear-wheels above the base-plate and out of frictional contact therewith, thereby preventing undue wear of the teeth and plate. The purpose of the boss on the gear-wheels is twofold, as it not only serves to maintain the teeth out of frictional contact with the baseplate, but serves to produce, by means of its clamping effect in connection with the shoulder formed by the reduced shank portion, an accurate and steady bearing for the stem in its seat and the gear-wheel in its engagement with the screw portion of the turning-key shaft. By thus providing the stem with a proper and efficient bearing the strain incident to the meshing engagement of the gearwheel with the screw of the turning-key is greatly diminished and the tuning of the instrument rendered much easier of accomplishment.

A tuning-stem constructed with my invention is much simpler in form and less expensive to construct than those now in use, at the same time being more durable and efficient in service.

In constructing the gear-wheel for my improved stem from sheet metal I am able to effect a saving not only in material, which is a considerable saving of itself, but also in the cost of construction, as it takes but three operations to make my wheel, while it takes five operations to make one of solid metal. It will be understood that the teeth of my improved wheel are of the same thickness as the metal from which it is stamped,'while the boss portion is much thinner, and, owing to the great pressure of the dies, will be much tougher.

of said dish-shaped geanwheei being adja cent to the base-plate, and held thereto by upsetting, the perimeter of the projecting portion of said gear-Wheel being provided with lugs or teeth adapted to mesh With the W0rin-turning key, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

XVILLIAM A. LANG. Vitnesses:

GEO. I-IocH, HENRY HERROLD. 

